A staff officer hung a huge map of Outer Mongolia-Baikal on the board.

The king took the whip and pointed directly at the Selenga River, which meanders above the map and flows into Lake Baikal.

"Now assembled south of Baikal are the 3rd and 4th armies, which have concentrated a large number of elite troops, from which units of various arms are good at winter operations can be selected to form a number of mixed assault groups, and advance along the Selenga valley towards Ulan-Ude, cutting off the enemy's rear route on the Chita side! After that, with Ulan-Ude as the core, the front was expanded to the east and west, striving for a favorable posture, establishing a solid forward base, and laying the foundation for the operation after winter. ”

"It is recommended to launch operations before January, from January to May, Lake Baikal is in the freezing period, and in the first three months, due to the heat release effect of the lake surface freezing, the temperature within 100 kilometers of the lakeshore is 11-16 degrees higher than that of the surrounding area, and at the same time, there is less snowfall in the theater during this period, and it is more convenient for troops to move and station."

"While the Third and Fourth armies are concentrating on the assault, the main forces of the Northeast Front should actively advance as much as possible depending on the weather conditions, focusing on seizing the railway line on the Nebuchu side, and covering the railway construction work on the Manchurian side in preparation for the spring and summer offensive."

"As for Central Asia," Wang Zhi motioned to his staff officer to change to another map, "you can first advance the main forces of the Northwest Front to the Almaty-Taraz side, strive to liberate the two khanates of Bukhara and Khiva, supplemented by propaganda of national independence, incite the anti-Russian uprising of the Central Asian peoples as much as possible, and open up contact with Persia." At the same time, an active defense was launched north of Balkhash. The North-Western Front was to complete its operations before the arrival of summer, after which the main forces were to assemble north of Balkhash as appropriate, in order to coordinate the operations of the Northeast Front and the Mongol Front in the Far East and Eastern Siberia. ”

Wang Zhi paused and put down the whip.

"At the same time, the aviation units attached to the various armies should concentrate support for the above-mentioned operations as much as possible, depending on the weather conditions."

"As for the timing of the war between the Southern Front and the East China Sea Front, it is up to the Navy to decide."

Chief of Staff of the Navy, Yan Fu, got up with a "sigh": "The Navy hopes that from December 24 to 25, that is, during the Christmas period in the West, the mobile force can launch a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, and then the main force and the landing force will launch a Hawaiian attack. At the same time as the surprise attack was launched, the South China Sea side took the lead in Vietnam and the Philippines. ”

Liu Bailiang, Chief of the General Staff, nodded: "Choosing to launch an attack during the most important festival of Westerners can indeed strengthen the effect of the surprise attack, so, are the relevant preparations completed?" ”

"Yes, all the troops are in place and ready to go out at any time!" Yan Fu answered confidently.

"However, according to the previously submitted enemy intelligence on the South Seas side, the strength of the Anglo-French-Dutch Far East Fleet is very impressive, with seven dreadnought-type warships, including Britain's latest Queen-class warships. On the other hand, the main forces of our fleet in the South China Sea are all old warships before and after the Asian-Russian War, and before the main forces return to the division, if the enemy in the South Seas concentrates on attacking us, how should our army resist it? Defense Secretary Hooke, who is known for his prudence and meticulousness, immediately raised questions.

Yan Fu nodded and replied: "Yes, the navy also considers this, and in response, first of all, the South China Sea fleet is equipped with a large number of mine-striking ships, including 62 destroyers, 57 submarines and 128 torpedo boats, hoping to make up for the disadvantages of the capital ships with superior lightning forces." The second is to equip the South China Sea fleet with powerful shore-based air forces, including 108 long-range bombers with torpedo attack capabilities, as well as a number of large patrol airships and long-range seaplanes. Third, after the start of the war, the main force of the fleet on the Nanyang side will concentrate on supporting the Philippine landing operation under the cover of land-based aviation, and at the same time, cover the southern coastal lines of communication with a considerable number of light forces, and will not be dispersed, giving the other side a chance to break through. The last ......"

"If the effect of the surprise attack of the mobile force is satisfactory enough, four to six dreadnought warships can be transferred from the main force bound for Hawaii to sail back to the South China Sea first to support the South China Sea fleet in the operation."

"On the contrary, if the effect of the surprise attack is mediocre, in the face of a possible challenge from the Anglo-French-Dutch forces, the South China Sea fleet will have to rely on its existing forces to delay and deplete the enemy's forces as much as possible. Specifically, it is to avoid a decisive battle with the main force, concentrate the lightning strike forces on the surface, underwater, and in the air to launch an attack at any cost, and temporarily force back the enemy forces while waiting for the return of our main forces. ”

"At that time, will you have the confidence to hold out until the main force comes back?" Hook was still a little uneasy.

"I and the commander of the fleet on the southern front have full confidence!" Yan Fu raised his head.

Liu Bailiang nodded: "Then, regarding the determination of the date of the war, I think the army and navy have reached a consensus, and there is no problem with December 25 Christmas Day as the X day, right?" ”

The day of the war was thus set.

In order to keep the war day a secret, and to achieve a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, the meeting decided to adopt the following strategy:

First, all aspects of the operation will be carried out at the same time as the time of the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor by the Naval Mobile Unit.

Second, diplomatically, we should change our previous hardline attitude toward the United States and relax the conditions for negotiations, so that we can feel that our side still has sincerity in negotiations. Continue to hide the truth from diplomats in the United States, so that they themselves genuinely believe that they are negotiating for peace.

Third, within a week of the departure of the Navy's attack force against the United States, the prime minister issued a speech on détente with the United States, expressing optimism about the prospects for negotiations.

Fourth, the date of the start of the war and the dispatch of the naval attack force should be kept strictly secret internally, and the orders given to the various units should be as vague as possible until the last moment, so as to avoid such clear directions as "going to war" and "attacking."

Fifth, the navy's summer attack force should maintain radio silence as much as possible after leaving the port, and the mobile force should absolutely prohibit all radio waves from coming and going before the attack is launched.

Sixth, after the Navy's attack force in Xia left the port, it sent false telegrams at the Marshall, Truk, Kaohsiung, Lushun, Tsingtao, and Wu bases with the call signs of the attack force's ships according to their daily communication volume, thus giving the other side the impression that the ships of the attacking force were still staying at the above-mentioned bases.

Seventh, organize sailors with the emblems of the ships of the Xia attack force to go ashore and rest near the above-mentioned bases.

Eighth, it is necessary to closely monitor and block the sea areas and areas around the bases of the Xia attack troops, carry out preventive "emptying," and eliminate all suspicious characters indiscriminately.

9. On the eve of the start of the war, keep a number of evacuated ships on the route.

Tenth, the attacking forces against Xia should avoid the routes of civilian ships as much as possible, send alert destroyers around them, avoid unnecessary aerial reconnaissance, and use all means, including direct destruction, to avoid sending telegrams to ships that discover attacking forces.

Eleventh 、......